Improvement in barrel-heads



J. W. SASSCER, J'r.

BARREL-HEAD.

No.1 76,357. Patented April is, 1876.

Fig. 4

7 f; w ,3 a w) I a g I 4 Q I WITNESSES NJEI'ERS PfiOTO-UTNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIon.

JOHN W. SASSOER, JR, OF HORSE HEAD, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARREL-HEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,357, dated Apiil 18, 1876; application filed March 23, 1876.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SASSOER, J r., of Horse Head, in the county of P ince Georges and State of Maryland, have invented an Improvement in Barrel-Heads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation; Fig. 2, a plan view.

The invention contemplates the manufacture of barrels with headsthat may be readily removed without taking off or loosening a hoop or impairing the strength and integrity of the head.

The invention consists in making the head in three sections: a bottom or lower one, and two upper sections, the latter being each pivoted near one end to the former, and having a corresponding inclined recess, forming a wedgeshaped opening, in which is first forced, and then fastened, atapering key.

A represents an ordinary fish-barrel, from which a hoop or two is usually removed in order to take out the head; but this so loosens the body-staves that the brine exudes therethrough, is wasted, and is therefore greatly objectionable. B is the lower, and B B the upper sections of my improved head, the former being provided with screws b b, that pass through it into nut plates 0 fastened on the lower side. On the screws 1) the upper sections B are pivoted, while the screws b I) serve as guides, over which work the forward ends of sections B by means of the slots b N. b b represent corresponding inclined recesses of the sections B, which gradually diminish in width toward the periphery of head. D is a key, tapering from one end to the other, so as to correspond in shape to the two recesses b b taken together.

The sections B B are set slightly apart at their rear edges 11 b, so that they will have play to suit the motion on their pivots, and coincide at their circumferential edges when the key is wedged into place.

The head B B B, as soon as the key is withdrawn, may be contracted, and readily removed.

In the same state of contraction it is easily inserted into the usual annular groove just below the edge of barrel, when the key D is pushed home and secured by a clamp-screw. d, and, also, if desirable, by the tightening of the screws 1).

Thus I make a head that need not be destroyed itself, saves injury to the barrel, and saves waste of its contents.

One pair of the screws 12 b may be dispensed with, in order to cheapen the head for flour and other barrels.

I claim I An expansible barrel-head, consisting of the herein-described four pieces B B B D, the pieces B being pivoted on the upper face of piece B, and expansible by forcing the key I) in their undercut tapering recesses, as shown and described.

The above specification of my invention signed by Ine'this 18th day of March, 1876.

J. W. SASSOER, JR.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. PETTIT, SoLoN O. KEMON. 

